Many people are still asking the question… what exactly is softshell and why would I buy it? The first time we saw it we asked the same thing, but all you have to do is go out on a cold day and go skiing, hiking, snowshoeing or raise your heart rate in the outdoors and you will find out the benefits of softshell. Compared to hard shells that are great for downpours and seriously harsh wet weather, the softshell breathes in intense activity, stretches, and provides excellent protection to wind, snow and light rain. No more crinkly sounds around your ears, or that clammy feeling you get from an intense run down the mountain in a hard shell, softshell is the way to go when being active outside. Tight weaves and sophisticated fabrics make the softshell a choice for comfort hounds, but we do want to point out that although the softshell is treated with DWR, these jackets are not for protecting in serious rain.